Car bomb defused outside Newtownhamilton police station

The car was abandoned outside the police station

The Army has defused a bomb in a car abandoned outside the police station in Newtownhamilton in County Armagh.

The device is understood to have consisted of a number of containers filled with flammable liquid.

It was in a silver Peugeot 406 left outside the station at about 0200 BST on Tuesday.

The cordon at the scene has been reduced and families have been allowed to return to their homes. A forensic examination is continuing.

Chief Inspector Sam Cordner condemned those responsible.

"Yet again these cowardly criminals have shown complete disregard for the safety of the people of south Armagh and for police officers who serve this community," he said.

"My thanks go to the people of Newtownhamilton for their patience and support during this operation."

More than 50 houses in the area, including homes in the Newry Street and the Commons area, were evacuated during the operation.

Another car bomb made up of containers filled with flammable liquid was left outside Crossmaglen PSNI station in south Armagh on Saturday 3 April.

Dissident republicans were blamed for that attack.

The latest incident follows a car bomb attack on Palace Barracks in Holywood, County Down, in the early hours of Monday.